Briefly: Microsoft customers envious of the seamless integration between iPhones and Macs ought to take a look at a brand new characteristic within the Home windows-Android ecosystem, which marks a major step ahead in Redmond’s efforts to bridge the hole between cell and desktop platforms.
Microsoft has began rolling out a brand new characteristic that permits Home windows customers to entry their Android telephone’s storage immediately through File Explorer. The corporate knowledgeable Home windows Newest that this integration started in October and is now obtainable for each Home windows 10 and Home windows 11 customers.
Referred to as Android in File Explorer, the characteristic is a part of the broader Handle Cellular Gadgets performance and is managed by the Cross-System Expertise Host part, which is up to date via the Microsoft Retailer.
With this integration, customers can wirelessly browse, handle, and switch information from their Android gadgets immediately throughout the Home windows File Explorer interface – no USB connection required.
To make use of the characteristic, gadgets should meet sure necessities. It’s appropriate with Android 11 or later, and customers want model 1.24071 or newer of the Hyperlink to Home windows app on their Android gadget. Moreover, the most recent updates have to be put in for both Home windows 11 or Home windows 10, and the Cross-System Expertise Host part ought to be updated.
As soon as put in, customers will see their Android telephone seem as a shortcut within the File Explorer sidebar. Clicking this shortcut opens the telephone’s inside storage, permitting customers to browse folders and information simply as they might with a USB-connected gadget.
Customers can rename, copy, transfer, and delete information on their Android gadget immediately from their Home windows PC. Deleted information are moved to a brand new Recycle Bin folder on the Android gadget, the place they continue to be for 30 days earlier than being robotically deleted.
One standout characteristic is switch velocity. Home windows Newest studies that file transfers can attain as much as 1.2 Gbps over Wi-Fi, making it a viable various to wired connections for transferring giant information.
The characteristic additionally integrates with Home windows Search, enabling customers to seek for information saved on their Android gadgets immediately from the taskbar.
It is value noting that whereas Android in File Explorer enhances the present Telephone Hyperlink app, it operates independently, so customers do not want Telephone Hyperlink energetic to make use of it.
The rollout is staged, so not all customers might even see the characteristic instantly.